On 15 November in Italy, the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved the Framework Law on Cycling Mobility with a unanimous vote. All political groups agreed on the importance of a national push to cycling mobility, which marks a huge success and a historic moment for the Italian cycling community. And it all comes down to the advocacy work of FIAB - Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta. ​

Graziano Delrio, Italian Minister of Transport and cyclist said: 

"Today, we are celebrating a cultural fact: the State fully acknowledges the need for cycling mobility planning, together with the Regions. Just like the motorway system or the rail system, cycling is now part of a mobility strategy that becomes a priority in urban centers and for the development of tourism in our country."

While the law still has to be approved by the Senate, the outcome of the vote can already be seen as a concrete commitment of the political world to the issues of sustainable mobility and cycling in particular. The law clearly commits to promote bicycles as a means of transport for both dayly commuting and touristic and recreational activities. For the benefit of all: this will improve urban mobility, protect the environment and citizens’ health, and help develop touristic activities and revenues. 

President of FIAB Giulietta Pagliaccio, who has been fighting for years to reach this goal, said: 

The extraordinary goal achieved with the approval of the Law on Cycling Mobility rewards many cities that have been working hard for sustainable mobility policies and who today have the support of a national policy. Wishing that the law passes to the Senate's approval before the end of the legislature, I see a 'light at the end of the tunnel' today, which will spur us with courage to face the road ahead of us to bring cycling in Italy to the levels of the best European countries".

There are two specific areas of intervention: 

• cycling mobility in urban and metropolitan areas, through the adoption of urban cycling mobility plans (biciplan) with the objectives to encourage the use of bicycles in home-school and home-work shifts,  promote the allocation of resources for bicycle infrastructure and bicycle sharing services, facilitate the integration with public transport services and  improve the safety of cyclists and counter theft of bicycles, 
• cycling mobility on regional, national and European routes, aiming to integrate the Bicitalia National Bicycle Network with EuroVelo

FIAB has been a beneficiary of the ECF’s Leadership Programme for three consecutive years and during that time the groundwork for this successful campaign was developed. The programme is fully funded by the ECF Cycling Industry Club members via their yearly donations and it allows national cyclists’ associations with a high potential to get funds, support and training to transform their national campaigning to a professional level.

ECF is proud of this important advocacy achievement and we take this opportunity to congratulate our Italian members!